Wo  m e va 

Canton  Christian  College 
Girl  Students 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/beginingsofwomenOOcant 


The  Beginnings  of  the 
Women’s  Department 
of  the 

Canton  Christian  College 


The  Girls’  School  in  1903. 

Fanny  Sinclair  Woods. 


First  Years  at  Canton. 

Susan  Griggs  Graybill. 


What  Became  of  Seven  Girls. 

Susan  Griggs  Graybill. 

Our  Girl  Students. 

Julia  Post  Mitchell. 
Going  Back  to  the  Work. 

Fung  Hin  Liu. 

Developing  a Women’s  College. 

Henry  B.  Graybill. 


Who  is  Going  to  Do  It. 

W.  Henry  Grant. 


Trustees  of  the 
Canton  Christian  College 

156  Fifth  Avenue 
New  York 
1915 


FOREWORD 


[Wing  Kwong  Chung,  Dean  of  the  Canton 
Christian  College,  Former  Commissioner 
of  Education  of  Kwongtung  Province .] 

Our  Chinese  people  are  already  convinced 
by  the  results  in  the  mission  schools  of  the 
necessity  of  educating  girls. 

The  Women’s  Department  was  really  be- 
gun as  early  as  1900  by  Mrs.  0.  F.  Wisner 
at  her  home  in  Macao.  The  story  of  the 
Girls’  School  in  1903,  connected  with  the 
College,  has  been  told  by  Mrs.  Woods.  It 
was  the  eager  desire  of  our  Chinese  staff 
to  see  this  work  continued,  and  I took  into 
my  home  seven  girls,  under  the  care  of  my 
wife,  who  were  admitted  to  the  boys’  classes. 
Since  we  admitted  these  girls  many  men 
and  women  of  high  rank  as  well  as  others 
have  begged  us  to  admit  their  girls  to  our 
College,  but  we  have  had  to  deny  all  these 
requests. 

I am  confident  that  as  many  girls  will 
apply  for  entrance  as  we  wish  to  admit,  and 
that  their  parents  will  pay  the  same  fees 
as  those  paid  for  the  boys,  and  that  our 
Chinese  friends  will  contribute  liberally 
toward  the  running  expenses  and  buildings. 


W.  K.  Chung. 


Underwood  Underwood 


Miss  Fung  Hin  Liu 


Miss  Julia  Post  Mitchell 


I. 

THE  GIRLS’  SCHOOL  IN  1903 
Fanny  Sinclair  Woods 
(From  “The  Collegian”,  July,  1904) 

On  February  26,  1903,  a school  for  girls 
was  opened  in  the  third  story  of  a Chinese 
home  not  far  from  buildings  occupied  by  the 
Canton  Christian  College.  The  school  was 
all  in  one  class,  for  the  three  foreigners  who 
had  promised  to  teach  English  could  give 
but  one  hour  a day  each.  It  opened  with 
eleven  pupils,  which  soon  increased  to  seven- 
teen, but,  during  the  first  half  year  it  was 
found  necessary  to  send  away  all  the  mar- 
ried women  and  one  of  the  older  girls,  be- 
cause of  their  inability  to  understand  and 
retain  the  lessons.  Of  the  twelve  remain- 
ing pupils,  two  did  not  return  in  the  autumn. 

The  first  steps  to  establish  this  school 
were  taken  at  the  instance  of  two  Chinese 
Christians,  Wing  Kwong  Chung,*  professor 
of  Chinese  in  the  Canton  Christian  College, 
and  Tak  Shan  Liu,  a Chinese  doctor  and  pas- 
tor of  the  Macao  Church.  Mrs.  0.  F.  Wisner 
had  taught  a few  girls  in  her  home  in  1900 
and  1901  and  found  them  bright  and  eager 
to  learn,  and  her  success  encouraged  us  to 
undertake  the  work.  We  had  no  funds  for  a 
school,  but  we  promised  to  teach  if  Mr. 
Chung  and  Dr.  Liu  would  secure  a sufficient 
number  of  students  to  insure  the  salary  of 
a Chinese  teacher  and  the  rent  of  a school- 

* To  avoid  confusion  the  Chinese  order  Is  reversed  and 
the  surname  put  last  In  each  case. 

3 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


room.  They  set  to  work  with  a will,  and  at 
once  prepared  and  sent  out  a Chinese  paper 
advertising  the  proposed  school.  The  tui- 
tion was  fixed  at  thirty-two  silver  dollars, 
and  though  it  was  a large  amount  to  spend 
in  educating  a girl  in  China  that  did  not  pre- 
vent the  necessary  number  from  applying 
and  the  school  was  opened. 

The  three  foreign  women  who  entered 
upon  this  new  work  were  newcomers  to 
China,  and  their  teaching  was  of  necessity 
in  English.  The  whole  plan  of  the  school 
was  copied  after  what  seemed  to  us  the  suc- 
cessful system  being  worked  out  for  the  boys 
in  the  Canton  Christian  College,  using  the 
English  language  from  the  beginning  as  the 
medium  of  instruction. 

The  school  curriculum  was  in  general  as 
follows:  Opening  exercises,  consisting  of 

reading  the  Bible,  prayer  and  singing,  call- 
ing the  roll.  These  were  presided  over  by 
the  teacher  who  taught  the  first  hour.  For 
the  first  month  or  so,  Chinese  was  used,  but 
as  soon  as  possible  English  hymns  were  sub- 
stituted, and  a simple  prayer  in  English  was 
offered  by  the  leader.  Mrs.  Clancey  M. 
Lewis  gave  a good  deal  of  time  to  teaching 
each  hymn,  showing  the  girls  how  to  sing 
correctly  and  sparing  no  pains  to  explain 
the  meaning  of  the  English  words — a task 
by  no  means  easy — so  that  their  singing 
might  be  more  than  mere  sounds.  Follow- 
ing the  opening  exercises,  on  every  week- 
day except  Saturday,  were  the  English 
classes,  lasting  for  three  hours,  with  an  in- 
termission of  fifteen  minutes  before  the  last 


4 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


hour.  Mrs.  William  McKay  of  the  Canadian 
Presbyterian  Mission  taught  the  arithmetic 
and  Bible ; Mrs.  Lewis  taught  the  geography 
and  writing,  while  I (Mrs.  Woods)  had 
charge  of  the  English  language  class.  With 
the  exception  of  Wednesday,  the  afternoons 
and  Saturday  mornings  were  given  up  to 
the  Chinese  studies  under  the  care  of  a man 
teacher.  As  this  was  an  innovation  for  Chi- 
nese girls,  they  were  chaperoned  by  older 
women. 

The  first  two  months  of  school  were  hard 
ones  for  teachers  and  pupils  alike.  From 
the  first  nothing  but  English  was  spoken  ex- 
cept in  the  Chinese  classes,  but  this  was  not 
the  trying  feature  of  the  work.  The  stu- 
dents were  of  all  ages  from  thirty  down  to 
nine,  and  the  ability  to  take  in  anything 
new  was  as  varied  as  their  ages.  This  was 
particularly  true  in  Mrs.  McKay’s  class  in 
mathematics,  and  it  was  only  due  to  her 
untiring  efforts  with  the  backward  students 
that  she  was  able  to  keep  the  class  together. 
Another  great  difficulty  was  the  inattentive- 
ness of  the  students.  The  idea  of  paying 
attention  unless  being  spoken  to  directly  was 
in  most  cases  entirely  lacking  and  it  was  a 
great  strain  on  the  patience  of  the  teacher, 
especially  as  those  who  excelled  in  stupidity 
were  the  ones  who  most  often  sinned  in  this 
way.  Then  too  there  was  cheating  and  stub- 
bornness which  needed  all  the  firmness  the 
teacher  could  summon  to  overcome  it. 

Three  afternoons  in  the  week  at  least  one 
of  the  foreign  teachers  took  the  girls  out  for 
a walk  or  a play  in  some  secluded  part  of  the 
5 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


Macao  “cliff  road”.  At  such  times  English 
speaking  was  insisted  upon,  but  this  did  not 
interfere  with  the  enjoyment  of  playing 
“Drop  the  handkerchief,”  “London  Bridge,” 
“Plum,  plum,  pull  away,”  and  all  the  other 
favorites  known  and  enjoyed  by  American 
children.  These  afternoon  walks,  together 
with  the  calisthenic  drill,  given  when  pos- 
sible, during  the  morning,  fifteen-minute  re- 
cess seemed  to  put  new  energy  and  life  into 
girls  who  were  accustomed  to  a slow  drag- 
ging gait.  Early  in  the  school  year  two  of 
the  girls  went  with  their  American  teacher 
to  do  an  errand  and  nearly  wore  her  out  by 
their  deliberate  gait.  The  same  teacher  was 
much  surprised  a month  later  to  find  it  dif- 
ficult to  keep  up  with  her  young  companions. 
In  explanation,  they  said,  “We  learn  walk 
very  fast  now.” 

On  Sunday  for  an  hour  they  were  given  a 
simple  Bible  lesson  in  English.  Some  of  the 
students  were  Christians,  a few  were  not, 
but  all  were  required  to  attend.  I have  never 
had  better  attention  from  the  girls  who  all 
showed  a deep  desire  to  know  the  truth. 
They  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  singing,  and  sang 
very  sweetly  the  few  hymns  they  learned. 
The  Canton  Christian  College  permitted  our 
girls  to  attend  the  Sunday  service  held  in 
the  big  room  at  eleven,  and  this  was  a great 
help  and  privilege  to  the  girls,  who  enjoyed 
the  service  increasingly  as  they  were  able 
to  understand  more  of  what  the  speakers 
had  to  say.  In  the  afternoon  they  usually 
went  to  the  Chinese  Church  and  Sunday 
School. 


6 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


From  February  until  July  this  routine  was 
kept  up,  each  month  bringing  encourage- 
ments in  the  evident  advance  made  by  the 
pupils  both  in  matters  of  discipline  and  in 
their  power  and  ability  to  think.  Then  came 
the  summer  holidays,  lasting  three  months. 
In  October  work  was  resumed  with  enthusi- 
asm on  the  part  of  the  girls  that  opened  our 
eyes  to  see  what  our  little  school  was  mean- 
ing to  these  Chinese  girls.  The  enthusiasm 
was  not  momentary,  but  carried  the  school 
through  the  semester  of  hard  work  upon 
which  they  now  entered. 

But  I could  not  tell  of  our  school  without 
mentioning  the  Christmas  entertainment. 
About  three  weeks  before  Christmas  each 
teacher  was  approached  by  the  girls  and 
asked  to  give  them  something  to  do  for 
Christmas,  at  the  same  time  being  pledged 
to  the  utmost  secrecy.  For  two  weeks  all 
the  time  that  could  be  spared  from  their 
studies  the  girls  devoted  to  making  paper 
flowers,  chains  and  “Jacobs  ladders”  of  all 
the  colors  in  the  rainbow.  The  day  before 
Christmas  they  begged  for  a holiday  to  deco- 
rate the  school  building.  This  was  done  en- 
tirely by  themselves,  and  it  was  done  very 
well  though  quite  true  to  Chinese  style.  Our 
guests  were  to  be  restricted  to  the  parents 
of  the  girls  and  the  faculty  of  the  College, 
but  even  this  audience  was  a large  one  for 
the  girls,  and  one  after  another  whispered 
to  us  the  next  morning,  “I  did  not  sleep  all 
last  night.” 

The  program  was  all  in  English,  two  or 
three  Christmas  hymns,  an  exercise  in  which 
7 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


the  Christmas  story  was  told  again,  each  girl 
representing  a letter,  all  of  which  together 
spelled  the  word  “Christmas.”  There  were 
also  several  recitations,  one,  Longfellow’s 
poem  of  “The  Three  Kings,”  was  repeated, 
the  verses  being  divided  among  the  girls, 
while  the  familiar  song  about  the  three  little 
kittens  who  lost  their  mittens  and  had  no 
Christmas  pie,  was  as  well  appreciated  by 
the  girls  as  by  their  audience.  At  the  end 
Dr.  Wisner  spoke  a few  words  to  the  girls 
about  the  meaning  of  Christmas,  and  after 
this  the  girls  passed  around  Chinese  dain- 
ties, the  one  surprise  of  the  day,  and  so 
ended  for  them  the  happiest  day  of  the  year 
— I might  almost  dare  to  say  of  their  lives. 

One  other  day  is  indelibly  impressed  upon 
my  mind — the  day  we  had  to  announce  to 
the  girls  that  we  could  not  reopen  the  school 
after  the  New  Year  holiday.  We  had  ex- 
pected loud  crying  and  a great  commotion, 
instead  during  the  whole  of  the  remaining 
week  we  were  met  with  tear-stained  faces 
and  sobs  that  seemed  to  come  from  the  very 
depths  of  their  souls.  We  tried  to  comfort 
them.  We  hoped  sometime  we  could  estab- 
lish a school  for  girls  like  the  Canton  Chris- 
tian College.  “That  is  good  for  our  little 
sisters  to  hear,  but  for  us,  no,  we  are  too 
old.”  And  we  had  nothing  to  answer,  for 
we  knew  how  slow  would  be  the  work  of 
building  up  such  a school  as  we  hoped  for. 

The  difficulties  we  had  were  great,  but 
the  discouragements  were  far  outweighed  by 
the  joy  of  teaching  girls  whose  minds 
seemed  under  our  very  eyes  to  open  to  the 
8 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


meaning  of  life  and  the  world  around  them. 
Of  course  in  one  year  their  progress  could 
not  be  great,  but  what  advance  was  made  is 
proved  by  the  record  of  the  second  semester. 
There  was  no  cheating,  the  attention  in  class 
was  good,  and  their  sympathy,  which  we 
found  difficult  to  win  at  first,  was  given  with- 
out stint.  During  the  last  two  months  of 
the  year  I remember  saying  to  one  of  the 
other  teachers,  “These  girls  used  to  seem  far 
off  to  me,  now  I am  enjoying  playing  with 
them  just  as  if  they  were  American  girls.” 

Yes,  these  girls  were  just  like  American 
girls  except  in  this  one  great  particular. 
Their  lack  of  early  training  had  narrowed 
their  horizons  and  dulled  their  reasoning 
faculties  to  a surprising  degree.  But  when 
they  came  under  sympathetic  instruction, 
every  ideal  possessed  by  the  teacher  soon  be- 
came theirs  and  a strong,  patient  woman- 
hood was  developed.  Those  who  would  re- 
form China  while  neglecting  her  women  are 
attempting  to  construct  an  arch  with  but  one 
pier. 

To  illustrate  just  what  results  can  be 
secured  in  one  year  in  teaching  Chinese 
girls  we  present  the  following  samples  of 
work. 

About  Our  School,  Fung  Hin  Liu 

Many  people  say  the  Christian  College  is 
the  best  school  of  South  China,  because  the 
teachers  not  only  give  their  students  knowl- 
edge, but  they  also  make  their  characters 
very  strong.  Therefore  I thank  the  gentle- 
men who  support  this  college  very  much. 

9 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


But  my  heart  was  not  satisfy  yet,  for  there 
are  400,000,000  people  and  half  of  them  are 
girls,  which  do  not  study.  Then  though  all 
the  boys  have  good  education  and  strong 
characters,  and  yet  China  could  not  be  as 
strong  as  U.  S.  & England,  because  the 
foundation  of  the  country  is  in  the  families 
& the  families  are  supported  by  the  women. 

Last  year  Mrs.  Woods  & Lewis  & McKay 
had  a girl  School  it  was  just  as  well  as  the 
Christian  College,  but  Mrs.  Woods  must  go 
to  Canton  this  year  with  Dr.  Woods,  so  this 
school  could  not  continue  this  year.  All  the 
girls  were  very  sorry  for  it.  But  I know,  if 
we  wish  to  do  the  right  things,  God  will 
help  us,  so  we  ought  to  pray  to  Him  & be 
patient  to  wait  for  the  chance. 

A Letter  to  Her  Father,  Lau  Yuen  Mei 

By  a ten-year-old  Chinese  girl  after  one 
year  of  English,  uncorrected. 

Dear  Papa — 

I like  to  go  to  school,  I read  my  English 
book  every  day.  I learn  many  things.  Hay 
is  dry  grass.  A hen  is  a mama  chicken. 
The  baby  is  well.  I love  you  very  much. 
Good  bye. 

A Chinese  Essay  by  Wei  Kay  Yueng 
(Recent  translation  by  herself) 

Last  year  I was  studying  in  Kei  To  (Christ 
School).  Every  day  we  studied  Chinese 
three  hours  and  English  three  hours.  The 
teachers  were  Mrs.  Woods,  Mrs.  Lewis  and 
Mrs.  McKay.  The  arrangement  of  the  stud- 
ies and  methods  of  the  school  were  very 
10 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 

good  (i.  e.,  inside  of  the  school-room  what 
you  do  and  lessons  were  in  good  order — well 
systematized).  The  method  of  teaching  is 
very  easy  for  the  pupil’s  progress.  This  is 
why  everybody  enjoyed  the  teaching  and 
most  of  them  got  the  benefit  of  it. 

When  Christmas  time  came  all  the  stu- 
dents made  paper  flowers  and  cut  out  stars 
and  paper  balls  and  hung  them  inside  in 
order  to  decorate  the  school,  and  the  Christ- 
mas tree  helped  us  to  have  more  fun,  and 
the  teachers  taught  us  how  to  sing,  and  we 
invited  the  Canton  Christian  College  profes- 
sors to  come  to  enjoy  it  with  us. 

We  were  having  a great  time  but  sud- 
denly Mrs.  Woods  had  to  go  to  Canton  with 
Dr.  Woods  to  start  a medical  school.  That 
is  why  we  had  to  stop  and  close  the  school 
(at  Macao).  When  the  teachers  told  us 
this,  we  all  seemed  to  lose  a great  thing  be- 
cause they  were  so  kind  to  us  and  it  was 
very  hard  to  find  any  teachers  to  teach  us 
in  such  a good  method  as  they  did. 

Now  I am  studying  in  Mr.  Tsz  Po  Ch’an’s 
school.  This  teacher  is  very  famous  in 
South  China.  The  method  of  his  teaching 
is  very  different  from  the  others.  Mr.  Ch’an 
used  to  say,  If  we  Chinese  want  to  learn 
English  we  should  first  of  all  know  our  own 
language  well  because  we  are  Chinese  and 
to  study  Chinese  is  the  foundation  of  our 
education.  After  we  finish  Chinese,  then 
we  should  put  all  our  time  to  the  study  of 
English. 

I am  standing  and  looking  forward  for 
them  to  open  the  school  again. 

ll 


II. 


THE  FIRST  YEARS  AT  CANTON 
Susan  Griggs  Graybill 

In  1904  the  Canton  Christian  College  re- 
moved from  Macao  to  its  newly  acquired 
land  and  temporary  wooden  buildings  at 
Canton.  But  alas,  the  girls  were  left  be- 
hind, there  being  no  possible  accommoda- 
tion for  them.  Some  of  the  younger  ones, 
including  Fung  Hin  Liu,*  Fung  Yan  Liu  and 
Kwai  Haan  Chan,  went  to  Mr.  Sz  Po  Chan’s 
good  Chinese  school  in  Macao.  Two  years 
later  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wing  Kwong  Chung 
were  enabled  to  receive  some  of  these  girls 
into  their  new  bungalow  home  at  the  Can- 
ton Christian  College,  and  with  great  rejoic- 
ing they  came.  At  first  there  were  four  of 
them,  Fung  Hin  Liu  and  her  sister,  Fung 
Yan,  Mr.  Chung’s  own  daughter,  Wai  Ha, 
and  Yau  Tsit  Law,  returned  from  the  True 
Light  Seminary  in  Canton.  During  the  next 
three  years  these  four  remained  and  were 
joined  for  longer  or  shorter  periods  by  three 
others,  Kwai  Haan  Chan,  Yan  Yun  Mui  and 
Wai  Kei  Yeung  (Lily  Young).  This  group 
of  seven  was  the  nucleus  of  the  beginning 
of  real  work  for  girls  at  the  College,  and  I 
shall  tell  later  what  has  become  of  them. 

These  seven,  according  to  all  reports,  en- 
tered with  the  greatest  zest  into  the  life  of 
the  school.  They  were  not  one  whit  behind 
the  boys  in  their  studies  and  one  was  a little 

* To  avoid  confusion  the  Chinese  order  is  reversed  and 
the  surname  put  last  in  each  case.  Ei  is  pronounced  like  ay. 

12 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


ahead  of  all  the  boys.  They  joined  the  stu- 
dent Y.  M.  C.  A.,  greatly  to  the  advantage 
of  that  organization,  for  few  boys  had  had 
the  Christian  training  they  had  enjoyed.  The 
boys  were  put  on  their  mettle  by  this  unique 
experiment  in  education  in  China.  They  rose 
to  the  occasion  by  a consistent  gentlemanly 
behavior.  The  girls,  on  their  part,  had  just 
as  much  school  spirit;  when  the  battalion 
came  out  one  fall  in  their  brand  new  uni- 
forms, throwing  back  their  shoulders  as  the 
girls  came  by,  they  were  dumbfounded  to 
see  the  seven  girls  also  in  uniforms  of  beau- 
tiful gray  silk  and  just  as  proud  as  them- 
selves. 

When  I first  went  to  Canton  in  1909,  four 
of  the  seven  remained.  Fung  Hin  Liu  had 
graduated  from  the  Middle  School  with  first 
honors  and  sailed  away  to  America  to  ac- 
quire more.  Yan  Yun  Mui  was  studying  in 
Shanghai  and  Wai  Kei  Yeung  in  Hongkong. 
My  first  impression  of  them  was  of  demure- 
ness itself,  together  with  the  pleasantest  of 
manners  and  sweetest  of  smiles.  Two  days 
after  I arrived  I heard  them  at  their  weekly 
evening  party  with  Miss  Soles  (now  Mrs. 
Laird),  the  American  trained  nurse,  who 
lived  in  one  end  of  our  house.  I was  at 
once  obliged  to  add  to  my  impression  the 
conviction  that  very  merry  fun-loving  hearts 
beat  gaily  under  the  immaculate  silk  coats 
I so  admired. 

A little  later  came  my  opportunity  to  lead 
them  in  Bible  study;  I was  about  to  say 
“teach  them  Bible,”  but  our  Sunday  morn- 
ing hour  soon  came  to  be  a time  of  exchange 
13 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


of  thought  and  ideas,  for  three  of  my  class 
members  were  as  ready  to  talk  as  I was,  and 
had  very  accurate  knowledge  of  their  Bibles. 
The  other  one  would  have  been  quite  as  will- 
ing to  participate  in  the  discussion,  I believe, 
had  it  been  conducted  in  Chinese.  All  were 
interested  in  new  interpretations  suggested, 
but  slow  to  alter  any  real  conviction.  Did  I 
mention  that  one  of  these  girls  represented 
the  fifth  Christian  generation  in  her  family? 
She  was  one  of  whom,  it  was  said,  a year 
later,  when  I hesitated  about  assuming 
charge  of  a College  class  in  history,  “You 
can’t  injure  her  no  matter  what  methods 
you  use;  she  will  get  through  successfully, 
whatever  her  instructor  may  do.”  And  so 
it  proved. 

As  this  group  broke  up  I felt  that  very 
good  friends  were  leaving  us,  congenial  un- 
derstanding friends,  who  would  be  greatly 
missed.  The  occasional  contact  with  the  two 
that  remained  to  work  was  pleasant,  and 
very  soon  there  appeared  two  more,  Fung 
Kei  Liu  and  Wing  Chan  Chung.  These  two 
were  quite  new  to  English,  but  such  workers 
that  very  shortly  we  were  able  to  converse 
in  that  tongue.  Our  early  communications 
were  a combination  of  poor  Chinese  on  my 
side  and  delicious  English  from  them,  both 
of  which  caused  many  a laugh,  and  gave  us 
the  comforting  assurance  that  we  all  had  our 
weaknesses,  as  well  as  our  native  points  of 
strength.  My  share  in  their  education  was 
small,  for  when  the  Middle  School  was  un- 
able to  admit  them  all  the  American  women 
on  the  Campus  were  smitten  with  such  sym- 
14 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


pathy  for  their  disappointment  that  the  ser- 
vices of  all  were  immediately  offered  to  fill 
the  lack.  Eleven  o’clock  was  the  hour,  I 
should  say  the  exact  minute,  for  these  eager 
students  were  promptness  itself,  when  my 
doorbell  rang  and  the  girls  came.  I shall 
not  soon  forget  these  morning  hours,  when 
in  the  cool  of  my  big  living  rooms  we  joined 
the  youthful  characters  in  our  reading  book 
in  games  and  sleigh  rides,  and  carpentry 
work,  and  finally  in  a gay  trip  around  the 
world,  every  day  pronouncing  our  th’s  a little 
better,  and  taking  a little  more  of  the  Can- 
tonese singsong  out  of  our  performance. 
Every  expression  of  those  two  faces,  even 
every  attitude  of  the  graceful  bodies  ex- 
pressed the  interested  desire  to  absorb, 
and  there  was  the  mentality  behind  all 
this  that  assured  success.  And  then  the  day 
of  mingled  feelings  came  when  I must  say 
goodbye  and  be  gone  to  America.  And  these 
busy  girls,  both  of  whom  were  then  assist- 
ing in  the  Primary  School,  gave  me  pieces 
of  embroidery,  done  by  themselves,  which 
must  have  taken  days  of  work  to  accom- 
plish. They  admitted  that  it  was  only  by 
the  fortunate  granting  of  an  unexpected  holi- 
day that  they  were  able  to  complete  these 
offerings.  Such  was  their  exquisite  appreci- 
ation of  the  little  time  I had  given  to  help- 
ing them.  I suppose  they  will  never  under- 
stand that  they  helped  me  just  as  much  as  I 
helped  them.  These  two  girls,  Fung  Kei  Liu 
and  Wing  Chan  Chung,  are  still  at  the  Col- 
lege working,  as  Miss  Mitchell  says,  “Like 
mad.” 


15 


III. 

WHAT  BECAME  OF  SEVEN  GIRLS 
Susan  Griggs  Graybill 

Those  seven  girls,  who  were  the  first 
group  of  students  in  their  department  of  the 
C.  C.  C.,  have  already  made  history  for  them- 
selves, and  there  is  promise  that  their  lives 
are  yet  to  be  great  reservoirs  of  benefit  for 
the  women  and  children  of  South  China. 

Miss  Fung  Hin  Liu  came  to  America  in 
1909,  with  provision  made  for  one  year’s 
study  only,  but  with  faith  that  some  way 
would  be  found  to  enable  her  to  com- 
plete a full  college  course.  Her  first  years 
at  Wooster,  Ohio,  were  made  possible  and 
smooth  by  the  interest  and  help  of  Mrs.  O. 
F.Wisner,  who,  years  before,  had  in  her  own 
home,  in  China,  done  much  for  the  girls  she 
knew  there.  Miss  Liu,  after  completing  the 
Junior  Year  at  Wooster  University,  secured 
the  Helen  Gould  Scholarship  at  Wellesley, 
and  entered  the  Junior  Class  there  in  the 
autumn  of  1912,  taking  her  B.A.  degree  in 
1914.  She  is  now  taking  special  courses  in 
Teachers  College,  Columbia  University, 
with  a view  to  returning  to  the  Canton  Chris- 
tian College  as  a teacher  in  the  Women’s 
Department.  Her  double  experience  in  China 
and  America,  her  exceptional  abilities  and 
her  devoted  purpose  fit  her  pre-eminently  to 
be  a corner-stone  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
Women’s  Department  of  the  C.  C.  C. 

Miss  Yau  Tsit  Law  finished  the  work  of 
the  Middle  School,  taught  a year  in  Canton, 
16 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


and  when  the  Kwongtung  Government  gave 
competitive  examinations  for  sending  stu- 
dents to  America,  she  and  Miss  Fung  Yan 
Liu  were  the  only  successful  girl  candidates. 
She  is  now  a Junior  at  Mt.  Holyoke  College. 
While  in  Canton  she  and  Miss  Fung  Yan 
Liu  were  very  active  in  organizing  the  city 
Young  Women’s  Christian  Association.  They 
are  both  in  active  sympathy  with  the  higher 
education  of  women. 

Miss  Fung  Yan  Liu  would  have  taken  a 
medical  course  in  China,  after  her  gradua- 
tion from  the  Middle  School  had  she  not 
also  been  accepted  by  the  Provincial  Gov- 
ernment to  be  sent  to  America  for  study. 
I have  already  spoken  of  her  activity  in  the 
Canton  Y.  W.  C.  A.  She  has  had  two  years’ 
work  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  is 
now  a Junior  at  Smith  College. 

Miss  Wai  Ha  Chung  remained  at  the  Col- 
lege until  this  year,  having  completed  her 
Middle  School  studies  some  two  or  three 
years  ago.  She  has  been  one  of  the  most 
tireless  helpers  of  the  American  women  at 
the  College  in  their  efforts  to  be  of  service 
to  the  non-Christian  and  uneducated  women 
at  or  near  the  College.  Miss  Chung  has 
served  as  interpreter,  as  teacher  of  Bible 
and  of  reading,  and  as  leader  in  the  vil- 
lages. I have  yet  to  hear  of  her  replying 
in  the  negative  to  any  request  made  of  her 
by  the  American  women.  She  will  soon  be 
in  America  where  her  father  wishes  her 
near  him.  She  will,  in  all  probability,  study 
at  Northfield  for  a time. 

Miss  Kwai  Haan  Chan  is  in  charge  of  the 
17 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


kindergarten  department  of  the  Primary 
School.  She  has  not  only  shown  a marked 
capacity  and  bent  for  this  work,  but  she  has 
taken  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to 
acquire  proficiency  and  technical  knowl- 
edge. A trained  kindergartner  from  America 
has  had  a small  training  class  in  Canton 
for  a year  or  two  and  Miss  Chan  has  com- 
pleted a course  under  her  tuition  which,  in 
addition  to  her  several  years’  practical  ex- 
perience, her  natural  aptitude  and  her  deep 
Christian  earnestness,  makes  her  a splen- 
did friend  and  guide  for  her  fortunate  little 
charges. 

Miss  Wai  Kei  Yeung  (Lily  Young)  was 
a good  deal  younger  than  the  other  girls, 
and  when,  after  studying  in  Hongkong  for  a 
time,  she  came  back  to  the  College  one  day 
to  ask  some  advice  about  going  to  America 
by  herself,  we  were  almost  afraid  to  abet 
such  a plan.  But  the  way  was  smoothed 
and  friends  were  found  and  Wai  Kei  set 
forth  upon  adventure.  All  has  been  well 
with  her.  After  a year  in  a Southern  school, 
she  came  to  Wilson  College  in  Pennsylvania 
where  she  is  now  studying. 

Miss  Yan  Yun  Mui,  the  seventh  of  the 
group,  was  only  a short  time  at  the  Col- 
lege, and  went  to  Shanghai  to  study.  \Ye 
have  recently  heard  that  she  has  returned  to 
the  Canton  Christian  College,  and  with  re- 
doubled energy  for  study,  has  joined  Miss 
Wing  Chan  Chung  and  Miss  Fung  Kei  Liu 
in  the  third  year  class  of  the  Middle  School. 


18 


1 ■ 

Pm 

1 

Wo  Lb 

fBSjl 

§$- \ O 

Fr  ” > - y S. 

t 

mg  i 

A feast  in  a flower-boat 


The  First  Graduates  of  the  Summer  Normal  School  conducted  at  the 
C.  C.  C.  under  the  auspices  of  the  Kwongtung  Educational 
Association 


At  the  Christmas  entertainment,  1903 


Part  of  the  School  at  Macao  in  1903.  One  of  these  girls  is  the 
daughter  of  the  present  Chinese  Minister  to  Great  Britain 


Training  a Group  of  Girls  with  the  Boys 


The  group  of  seven  in  uniform.  From  left  to  right:  Yau  Tsit  Law, 
Wai  Kei  Yeung,  Kwai  Haan  Chan,  Fung  Hin  Liu,  Fung  Yan  Liu, 
Wai  Ha  Chung,  Yan  Yun  Mui  (see  Chapter  3) 


The  outdoor  spirit  at  the  College  is  the  secret  of  many  a success 


C.  C.  C.  representatives  at  Chinese  Students’  Summer  Conference, 
Amherst,  1914.  Front  row,  left  to  right:  Wai  Kei  Yeung,  Yau  Tsit 
Law,  Dean  W.  K.  Chung,  Fung  Yan  Liu,  Fung  Hin  Liu 


IV. 


OUR  GIRL  STUDENTS 
Julia  Post  Mitchell 

[Miss  Julia  Mitchell,  Associate  Professor 
of  English  in  the  Canton  Christian  Col- 
lege, arrived  at  Canton  September,  1913, 
and  is  acquiring  the  language,  studying 
conditions  affecting  the  school  work  in  China, 
and  making  friends  with  the  Chinese  young 
women  at  the  College,  in  addition  to  teach- 
ing advanced  English.  She  writes  as  fol- 
lows :] 

The  Chinese  girls  are  simply  enchanting 
with  their  graceful,  charming  manners,  soft 
voices  and  affectionate  ways.  Some  are 
bright  as  a flash,  and  they  all  thoroughly 
love  good  times.  This  means  volley-ball, 
making  candy,  playing  bean-bags  or  “seeing 
your  things,”  and  almost  anything  interests 
them. 

Two  of  them,  Miss  Fung  Kei  Liu  and  Miss 
Wing  Chan  Chung  come  here  one  afternoon 
every  week  “just  for  fun”  and  we  three  play 
volley-ball  with  the  five  girls  from  the  gram- 
mar school  and  Mrs.  Lau  very  often.  They 
are  all  enthusiastic  about  volley-ball  and 
play  well.  You  may  measure  their  enthusi- 
asm by  the  fact  that  there  is  a deep  ditch 
a few  feet  from  our  playground  into  which 
the  ball  often  drops;  it  is  rather  a difficult 
feat  to  get  it  out  again  and  then  it  has  to 
be  scrubbed  with  dry  grass  to  remove  the 
mud.  After  this  has  happened  a few  times 
the  ball  is  so  heavy  from  its  soaking  that  it 
19 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


is  hard  to  get  it  over  the  high  net.  But  the 
girls  are  as  cheerful  about  it  as  can  be.  When 
the  ball  rolls  near  the  place  and  we  are  afraid 
it  is  going  in,  we  all  scream  very  loud  to 
stop  it. 

The  carpenter  has  made  a bean-bag  board 
for  me,  containing  a large  and  small  square 
hole  into  which  we  try  to  throw  the  bean- 
bags.  On  rainy  days  we  play  this  instead 
of  volley-ball,  up  in  my  room.  They  seem 
to  enjoy  this  very  much ; last  week  they  came 
up  several  times  to  play,  and  in  a short  time 
they  became  very  proficient  at  it.  One  day 
Miss  Chau  and  her  sister  came  too.  They 
are  the  j oiliest  girls,  always  bubbling  over 
with  good  spirits.  It  is  good  to  have  them 
about.  As  soon  as  the  head  nurse  saw  our 
game  she  ordered  the  carpenter  to  make  one 
for  the  nurses  at  the  hospital.  It  is  fin- 
ished and  they  are  enjoying  it  very  much. 

With  six  nurses  at  the  hospital,  six  teach- 
ers at  the  primary  school,  one  at  the  vil- 
lage school  at  San  Fung  Wong,  which  is 
under  the  wing  of  the  College,  two  girls 
studying  like  mad  in  the  high  school,  five 
younger  girls  studying  in  the  grammar 
school,  just  because  the  teachers,  all  Chi- 
nese, are  willing  to  give  them  outside  time, 
and  several  young  wives  of  Chinese  teach- 
ers, etc.,  there  is  quite  a nucleus  of  girls 
and  young  women  for  whom  entertainment 
and  friendship  must  be  provided  by  us  in 
some  way  in  order  to  keep  them  happy  and 
good,  and  to  help  them  to  do  their  work 
and  carry  their  responsibilities  wholesomely 
and  well. 


20 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


I shall  never  rest  until  there  is  a good, 
a very  good  school  for  girls  right  here,  to 
do  work  equivalent  to,  though  not  neces- 
sarily identical  with,  what  the  boys  are  do- 
ing in  their  high  school.  The  College  classes 
for  girls  can  wait  but  this  cannot. 

The  peril  of  turning  young  men  out  from 
the  College  with  no  women  in  China,  ex- 
cept a few  isolated  cases,  educated  anywhere 
near  their  level  is  very  great.  They  take 
marriage  very  lightly  or  they  grow  cynical 
and  disillusioned.  The  College  here  has  only 
done  half  its  part  when  it  trains  these  fel- 
lows, fills  them  to  the  brim  with  idealism 
and  enthusiasm,  and  the  knowledge  of  how 
to  do  things,  and  then  lets  them  build  up 
any  kind  of  a home  they  can  get  together. 

Frankly,  I think  that  the  standard  of  girls’ 
education  here  in  China,  though  somewhat 
different  than  in  America,  ought  to  be 
higher.  There  books,  lectures,  all  sorts  of 
things  more  or  less  “make  it  up”  to  the  ill- 
educated.  They  need  to  be  taught  much 
more  about  sanitation,  nursing,  household 
running  in  all  its  forms,  than  American 
girls,  as  a rule,  and  at  the  same  time  they 
need  a chance  to  look  the  leading  facts  of 
history  and  economics  in  the  face.  But 
enough ! I’m  not  working  out  a curriculum, 
only  telling  you  how  it  grieves  me  to  wait 
while  new  China  is  so  desperately  in  need 
of  the  kind  that  will  meet  its  new  conditions. 
I want  a good  school  for  girls  here,  with  a 
high  academic  standard,  but  a flexible  cur- 
riculum that  will  bend  to  fit  their  needs.  I 
am  revelling  in  my  teaching.  The  boys  are 
21 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


keen  and  eager  and  work  well  and  do  their 
own  thinking;  but  men’s  education  always 
runs  ahead  of  women’s,  and  I don’t  want  the 
Chinese  girls  to  have  to  wait  till  Sophia 
Smith  is  reincarnated  before  they  can  be 
trained  to  make  homes  that  will  enable  the 
men  from  here  and  elsewhere  to  shape  this 
republic.  How  much  can  they  do  if  they 
all  have  untrained  wives  hanging  to  their 
necks  ? 

I want  the  girls  to  use  my  quarters  in 
Martin  Hall  as  a sort  of  clubroom  until  they 
have  other  accommodations.  I have  had  a 
ping-pong  table  made  and  the  bean-bag 
game  still  holds  its  attractions.  “Tiddledy 
Winks”  are  on  their  way  out  and  I hope  to 
find  suggestions  from  Miss  Jessie  Bancroft’s 
book,  “Games  for  the  Playground,  Home, 
School  and  Gymnasium.”  Quiet  ones  are 
better  than  none  at  all,  but  I am  anxious  to 
have  appliances  for  as  many  as  possible  that 
will  counteract  the  positions  of  the  study 
period  and  recitation  hours.  Not  more  than 
four  can  play  ping-pong  at  once,  so  I am 
casting  about  for  all  that  I can  find. 

Two  of  the  girls  come  up  every  Tuesday 
afternoon  for  a cup  of  tea  and  a short  chat, 
but  as  long  as  the  good  weather  lasts  I don’t 
like  to  keep  them  indoors  long.  They  enjoy 
volley-ball  and  they  are  needed  on  the  teams. 
The  girls  all  play  well  and  it  is  pretty  to 
watch  their  eagerness  and  enthusiasm.  To 
tell  the  truth  I think  one  reason  for  their 
enjoyment  is  the  fact  that  it  is  the  same 
game  the  boys  play.  They  have  all  the  work 
the  boys  here  have  but  only  a part  of  their 
22 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


fun,  so  this  helps  to  make  up  for  that.  One 
afternoon  the  girls  were  hanging  on  my  rail- 
ing watching  the  drill.  When  they  came 
back  to  my  room  one  of  them  said,  laugh- 
ingly but  wistfully,  “I  wish  I were  a boy.” 
“Why?”  I asked.  “So  that  I could  do  that,” 
she  said,  turning  her  head  toward  the  parade- 
ground  whence  some  very  lively  bugling  was 
wafted  up  to  us. 

Besides  the  girls  in  the  primary  school 
and  the  others  studying  and  teaching  on  the 
College  grounds,  there  are  thirty  or  forty 
other  girls  that  would  be  very  glad  of  the 
opportunity  to  begin  study  here  immedi- 
ately. If  the  girls  are  always  as  delightful 
to  teach  as  the  boys  are  there  is  some  fun 
waiting  for  somebody! 


23 


V. 

GOING  BACK  TO  THE  WORK 
Fung  Hin  Liu 

Wellesley  College,  April  17,  1913. — I feel 
so  happy  that  I shall  be  having  a share  in 
the  founding  of  the  Women’s  Department 
of  the  Canton  Christian  College.  Though 
at  times  I had  been  undecided  about  my 
future  work,  that  is,  the  place  where  I should 
do  my  work,  yet  the  desire  to  work  in  the 
College  has  always  been  dominant.  I know 
that  the  College  will  grow  higher  and  higher 
in  the  esteem  of  the  Chinese  people,  and  its 
influence  for  Christianity  will  be  greater  and 
greater.  I am  so  happy  to  think  that  I have 
taken  this  definite  step. 

As  to  the  question  of  finance,  don’t  let  it 
bother  you.  I have  come  out  safely  so  far, 
and  I trust  it  will  come  out  for  the  best.  It 
is  nice  to  think  that  one  has  no  debt  when 
one  gets  out  of  College,  but  even  if  I had 
some  debt  “as  long  as  I have  my  breath  I 
can  pay  it  back.”  So  in  our  working  toward 
the  founding  of  the  College,  don’t  let  my 
personal  financial  problem  come  into  play 
too  much.  I am  sure  my  parents,  brothers 
and  sisters  will  be  too  glad  to  lose  the  help 
from  me  when  they  know  that  I am  working 
for  this  important  cause.  This  cause  has 
been  my  parents’  cause  for  years. 

You  may  be  interested  to  know  what  my 
ideas  concerning  education  for  women  are. 
I think  the  chief  place  for  women  is  the 
home.  During  this  transitional  period  of 
24 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


Chinese  society,  I think  nothing  is  more  im- 
portant than  to  give  the  women  of  China  the 
idea  of  sacredness  of  the  home,  to  help  them 
to  understand  that  marriage  is  not  just  a 
means  to  secure  happiness,  but  is  a responsi- 
bility, to  train  and  educate  the  citizens  of 
the  future,  and  to  promote  love  and  all  that 
is  sacred  to  the  human  race.  Another  place 
for  women  is  the  school.  Not  every  woman 
can  teach,  but  only  she  who  has  love  for 
children  can  teach.  There  is  hardly  any  posi- 
tion or  work  women  cannot  occupy,  but  they 
all  need  to  have  preparation.  The  prepara- 
tion consists  in  the  acquiring  of  a great  love 
for  humanity  and  a keen  sense  of  judgment 
concerning  the  good  and  the  bad  for  the 
country  and  the  world,  and  the  power  to 
carry  the  right  judgment  into  action. 


Wellesley,  Jan.  28,  1914. — I haven’t  writ- 
ten to  you  any  more  concerning  my  plan 
because  I have  not  had  enough  time  to  think 
about  it.  I just  had  a little  time  to  discuss 
this  matter  with  some  of  my  friends  here 
this  afternoon.  It  became  clear  to  me  that  I 
must  go  home  and  work  for  this  Women’s 
Department.  It  is  not  a question  whether  I 
will  be  best  fitted  for  it  or  not,  but  it  just 
seems  as  if  it  is  ‘my  job.’  It  ‘falls  upon  me’ 
to  do  it,  as  you  said  in  your  letter. 

I was  talking  to  three  of  my  friends  this 
afternoon  about  it.  They  were  all  so  en- 
thusiastic over  this  project  that  they  are  will- 
ing to  do  pioneer  work  with  me.  The  prob- 
lem of  the  proper  kind  of  worker  is  a great 
25 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


one.  They  are  girls  that  are  willing  to  work 
with  all  their  might  and  main.  They  de- 
light in  working  up  new  things.  One  is  in- 
terested in  kindergarten. 


Teachers  College,  Columbia,  Dec.  21, 191U. 
— I am  so  thrilled  that  our  Trustees  have 
approved  the  raising  of  funds  for  the  Wom- 
en’s Department  at  the  Canton  Christian 
College.  I know  that  the  present  work  for 
boys  is  financed  with  great  difficulty  and  it 
may  be  wiser  not  to  open  up  new  work;  yet 
the  women’s  work  is  already  ripe  and  unless 
it  is  reaped  it  will  go  to  waste.  I know  some 
of  my  Chinese  friends  will  be  very  willing 
to  contribute  all  they  can  toward  the  work 
if  it  is  well  started.  In  the  meanwhile  we 
must  work  hard  to  get  some  funds  for  the 
buildings  and  support  for  at  least  two 
teachers. 

My  work  at  Teachers  College  is  opening 
my  eyes  to  many  educational  problems.  It 
has  been  giving  me  what  I need.  I am  glad 
I am  here.  One  year  seems  too  short  to  cover 
such  a big  field.  How  I wish  I could  stay 
here  another  year!  Yet  I can  hardly  wait 
to  go  home  when  I think  of  the  many  girls 
waiting  for  me  there  to  give  them  what 
little  I know.  I must  tell  you  something 
about  my  younger  sister,  Fung  Kei.  She 
wrote  to  me  that  she  would  try  to  write  me 
in  English  in  order  to  get  more  practice.  She 
is  doing  very  well  but  she  does  make  some 
funny  mistakes.  She  wrote  “Mrs.  Laird  in- 
vited us  to  her  home  to  a soso  meeting.  We 
26 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


had  a very  enjoyable  time.”  In  another  let- 
ter she  stated,  “I  am  not  very  well.  Father 
is  taking  me  out  horse-back  riding.  The 
streets  are  crowed  so  when  we  get  to  the 
wilder  streets  we  weep  our  horses  and  make 
them  go  faster.” 

Not  long  ago  a rumor  started  at  home 
that  I was  going  to  leave  Canton  and  settle 
in  North  China.  She  wrote  concerning  it 
in  a long  Chinese  letter,  “I  cannot  believe  it. 
There  are  so  many  girls  ready  for  high 
school  waiting  for  you  to  come  back.  Our 
eyes  are  fixed  on  the  Women’s  Department 
that  you  are  to  help  build  up.  No  matter 
what  you  may  do  please  do  not  forget  us.  We 
are  ready  to  help  you  in  every  way.”  Fung 
Kei  is  in  the  third  year  class  now  and  is 
doing  very  well.  She  wishes  to  take  up 
Primary  School  Supervision.  I hope  that 
she  can  come  to  Teachers  College  some  time 
in  the  future.  I am  glad  we  have  taken 
definite  steps  toward  the  actual  building  up 
of  the  Girls’  Work. 

I am  more  and  more  convinced  that  edu- 
cation for  Chinese  women  should  be  different 
from  that  of  American  women.  To  work  out  a 
system  of  education  adapted  to  the  needs  of 
our  women  is  the  greatest  problem  we  have. 
It  challenges  the  biggest  intellects.  So  much 
of  the  new  education  for  women  at  home  has 
been  transported  bodily  from  America.  This 
is  a great  mistake,  especially  when  we  real- 
ize that  the  curricula  for  women  in  this  coun- 
try have  been  taken  from  those  adapted  to 
men,  and  that  the  education  for  women  is 
still  in  the  process  of  adjustment. 

27 


VI 


DEVELOPING  A WOMEN’S  COLLEGE 
Henry  B.  Graybill 

For  fourteen  years  the  Canton  Christian 
College  has  been  studying  and  working  at 
the  problem  of  developing  a Women’s  De- 
partment. The  building  up  of  the  institu- 
tion as  a whole  has  been  so  arduous  that  this 
and  other  departments  have  had  to  await 
their  turn  for  full  development.  Land,  ad- 
ministrative organization,  a student  body 
with  excellent  spirit  and  morale,  and  Chi- 
nese and  American  constituency  have  now 
been  secured  as  a foundation  for  the  work 
as  a whole. 


A Student  Nucleus 

The  first  task  in  developing  any  of  the 
schools  is  the  training  of  a small  student 
nucleus.  About  sixty  girls,  in  groups  scat- 
tered from  the  Primary  School  to  the  Col- 
lege, have  been  under  instruction,  and  many 
other  girls  have  been  pleading  for  admit- 
tance. But  for  the  sake  of  the  character 
of  the  student  body  the  numbers  must  be 
strictly  limited  to  those  that  can  come  into 
contact  with  the  teachers  and  older  students. 

Another  reason  for  the  early  development 
of  such  groups  of  girls  was  that  they  have 
thus  furnished  the  first  teachers  for  the 
Women’s  Department.  From  among  those 
trained  at  the  College  one  is  now  one  of  the 
best  teachers  of  the  primary  school ; one  has 
assisted  in  several  grades,  and  Miss  F.  H. 

28 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


Liu,  now  at  Teachers  College,  Columbia,  will 
return  probably  next  autumn  to  the  College 
to  throw  herself  into  the  intensive  training 
of  more  groups  of  girls. 

Miss  Liu,  with  the  other  members  of  the 
girls’  school  staff,  will  concentrate  her  efforts 
at  first  upon  the  Grammar  School  classes  and 
the  small  class  entering  the  Middle  School 
(High  School).  The  latter  will  be  allowed 
to  increase  in  size  and  will  be  carried  along 
as  a single  class  until  the  next  class  is  ready 
to  enter  from  the  Grammar  School  two  years 
later.  The  primary  grades,  for  the  present 
at  least  remain,  for  convenience  unseparated 
from  the  boys’  grades.  The  three  girls  in 
the  Middle  School,  third  year  class,  will  be 
allowed  to  complete  their  work  in  the  boys’ 
classes,  since  it  is  far  more  desirable  to  build 
up  the  student  body  from  a point  lower 
down.  This  is  a vital  point  in  the  educa- 
tional work  in  a non-Christian  land. 

Teachers  and  Workers 

The  second  essential  is  the  formation  of  a 
staff  and  its  organization.  The  organization 
of  the  institution  as  a whole  is  now  described 
in  the  “Statutes.”  The  Women’s  College, 
with  its  lower  schools,  will  constitute  the 
“Women’s  Department.” 

The  following  have  been  giving  time  to 
the  girls’  work: 

Miss  Julia  Post  Mitchell,  B.A.  (Smith), 
M.A.  (Teachers  College), 

Miss  Fung  Hin  Liu,  B.A.  (Wellesley  and 
Teachers  College), 

29 


The  Canton  Christian  College 

Mrs.  C.  G.  Fuson  (Phoebe  Meeker),  B.A. 

(Emporia), 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Woods  (Fanny  Sinclair),  B.A. 

(Bryn  Mawr), 

Mrs.  H.  B.  Graybill  (Susan  Griggs),  B.A. 

(Vassar). 

Mrs.  C.  N.  Laird  (Mary  Soles),  Mrs.  H. 
J.  Howard  (Margaret  Stroeble),  and  others 
have  devoted  time  to  the  Village  Girls’ 
School,  the  Nurses’  Training  Class  in  the 
Medical  Department,  the  Night  School  for 
Women,  and  other  work  for  the  girls  and 
women  at  the  College.  Mrs.  J.  C.  Mc- 
Cracken did  splendid  work  in  beginning  their 
physical  training  in  stimulating  by  her  en- 
thusiasm the  whole  enterprise,  and  in  aid- 
ing the  first  of  the  girls  to  enter  college  in 
America.  In  addition  to  these  should  be 
mentioned  the  splendid  and  self-sacrificing 
labors  of  Wing  Kwong  Chung,  Tak  Shan  Liu 
and  Chap  Ng  Ch’an,  who  have  given  their 
time  and  their  houses  to  the  advancement  of 
this  department. 

Others  should  be  added  to  the  staff  at  once, 
both  to  teach  and  to  be  acquiring  a command 
of  the  language.  This  still  requires  a great 
deal  of  time  of  the  first  members  of  the 
staff  upon  whom  falls  most  of  the  task  of 
dealing  with  the  parents,  with  the  Chinese 
teachers,  and  with  the  girls  before  they 
learn  to  speak  English. 

Girls’  Schools  in  Kwongtung 

The  denominational  missions  have  already 
accomplished  a large  and  noble  work  for 
30 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 


girls.  Schools  in  Canton  and  other  centers 
and  schools  (chiefly  British)  in  Hongkong 
are  teaching  nearly  five  thousand  girls.  The 
building  up  of  a high-grade  girls’  college 
will  be  with  the  definite  purpose  of  sympa- 
thetically aiding  the  faithful  and  efficient 
women  engaged  in  this  splendid  work.  The 
first  aim  of  the  College  should  be  to  supply 
teachers  of  high  attainments,  correct  train- 
ing, and  best  Christian  ideals,  to  lend  im- 
mediate aid  in  the  strengthening  of  all  these 
schools.  The  aims  and  character  of  these 
various  mission  schools  differ  greatly  (as 
with  the  boys’  schools,  which  out-number 
them  two  to  one)  because  of  the  different 
demands  they  attempt  to  meet  and  the  vari- 
ety of  conditions  under  which  they  work. 
From  some  of  them  students  may  later  come 
to  the  College,  but  as  yet  the  number  of 
preparatory  schools  for  girls  is  very  small. 
One  important  effect  of  the  college,  there- 
fore, will  be  to  stimulate  the  growth  of  ordi- 
nary high  schools  for  girls.  The  College’s 
lower  schools  will  be  not  only  feeders  for 
itself  and  practice  schools  for  its  students 
of  teaching,  but  also  model  schools  to  inspire 
such  work  throughout  the  province.  Women 
teachers  for  the  elementary  schools  in  China 
are  needed  by  the  tens  of  thousands.  Women 
teachers  are  now  so  few  that  practically  all 
primary  schools  have  men  teachers. 

A Supporting  Constituency 

That  the  Chinese  will  rally  to  the  support 
of  a high  standard  school  for  girls  is  a cer- 
tainty. They  have  begged  the  College  to 
31 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


admit  more  girls  and  every  year  they  en- 
deavor in  some  new  way  to  secure  a more 
rapid  development  of  this  department.  The 
girl  students  are  required  to  pay  the  same 
tuition  fees  that  the  boys  pay,  the  highest  of 
the  Christian  schools  in  China  outside  of 
Shanghai  and  Hongkong.  Money  for  build- 
ings will  very  probably  be  subscribed  in  part 
by  the  Chinese. 

But  the  necessary  gifts  to  carry  the  deficit 
in  the  running  expenses  must  come  almost 
entirely  from  America.  Gradually,  with  no 
church  organization  behind  it,  the  College 
has  attracted  a large  group  of  friends,  but 
the  ordinary  budget  of  the  College  is  at  pres- 
ent insufficient.  Therefore  the  growth  of 
the  Women’s  Department  must  proceed  only 
so  fast  as  its  group  of  supporting  friends 
can  be  developed  without  injury  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  College  as  a whole.  There  are 
many  individuals  and  some  schools  interested 
in  this  work  and  it  is  our  hope  that  more 
will  enlist.  One-half  of  the  mission  work  is 
done  on  this  side  of  the  ocean.  Each  one 
who  takes  this  work  upon  her  heart  will,  by 
her  very  interest  and  prayers,  become  a force 
for  its  furtherance. 

What  Can  Be  Done  at  Minimum  Cost 

The  estimates  below  indicate  the  next  suc- 
cessive steps  to  be  taken  in  the  building  up 
of  these  schools.  The  advance  each  year  de- 
pends upon  whether  the  financial  demands 
can  be  met.  Each  estimate,  moreover,  pre- 
supposes the  correctness  of  other  estimates 
of  that  year,  but  the  figures  are  in  general 
32 


Beginnings  of  Women’s  Department 

the  result  of  study  of  the  actual  experience 
with  the  boys’  schools. 

The  student  fees  will  cover  the  cost  of 
the  Chinese  locally  employed,  or  nearly  do 
so,  and  cover  the  cost  of  board,  laundry, 
lights  and  other  incidentals  not  included 
above. 

In  estimating  the  faculty  needed,  the  neces- 
sary furloughs  and  language  study  time  for 
the  American  teachers  have  been  taken  into 
account. 

The  support  of  the  wives  of  some  of  the 
teachers  in  other  departments  might  be 
charged  against  this  department,  since  much 
of  their  time  is  and  has  been  given  to  work- 
ing up  the  girls’  schools  and  to  studying 
Chinese  in  preparation  for  such  work. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  rate  of  increase 
in  the  student  body  is  carefully  estimated  at 
only  that  number  of  new  students  which  can 
probably  be  readily  assimilated  by  the  stu- 
dent body  without  greatly  increasing  the 
staff  or  over-taxing  the  older  members  of  it. 

The  cost  of  buildings  includes  the  main 
furniture  of  each.  The  first  buildings  will 
be  residences  but  used  for  general  purposes 
until  others  are  built.  This  will  keep  the 
school  at  first  close  to  the  American  com- 
munity on  the  campus. 

The  administration  expenses  of  ten  dol- 
lars per  student  seems  conservative  when  it 
is  remembered  that  all  the  risks,  as  well  as 
the  general  equipment  and  direction,  fall 
upon  the  Trustees  of  the  College. 

The  total  budget  indicates  the  amount  to 
be  provided  each  year  in  addition  to  the  re- 
33 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


ceipts  from  students,  ordinarily  called  the 
Deficit. 


Students 
School  above 

Year  Primary 

1914  High  Sch.,  2 

1915  Gram.  Sch.,  6 

Cost  of 
Faculty 

$2,000 

Rent  & Cost 
of  Bldgs. 

Rent,  $80 

Admlnls 

tration 

$80 

- Total 
Budget 

$2,160 

1915  High  Sch.,  10 

1916  Gram.  Sch.,  10 

2,000 

Rent, 

Bldg., 

100 

6,000 

200 

8,300 

1916  High  Sch.,  10 

1917  Gram.  Sch.,  20 

3,000 

Rent, 

Bldg., 

300 

6,000 

300 

9,600 

1917  High  Sch.,  10 

1918  Gram.  Sch.,  50 

4,000 

Bldg., 

6,000 

600 

10,600 

1918  High  Sch.,  30 

1919  Gram.  Sch.,  30 

4,000 

600 

4,600 

1919  College,  10 

1920  High  Sch.,  20 
Gram.  Sch.,  60 

5,000 

Bldg.,  15,000 
(Chinese  Gift) 

900 

20,900 

1920  High  Sch.,  50 

1921  Gram.  Sch.,  60 

5,000 

1,100 

6,100 

1921  High  Sch.,  50 

1922  Gram.  Sch.,  60 

6,000 

1,100 

7,100 

1922  College,  20 

1923  High  Sch.,  60 
Gram.  Sch.,  60 

6,000 

Bldg., 

15,000 

1,400 

22,400 

1923  College,  20 

1924  High  Sch.,  90 
Gram.  Sch.,  60 

6,500 

1,700 

8,200 

1924  College,  50 

1925  High  Sch.,  60 
Gram.  Sch.,  60 

7,500 

1,700 

9,200 

1925  College,  50 

1926  High  Sch.,  90 

8,000 

Bldg., 

15,000 

2,000 

25,000 

Gram.  Sch.,  60 


Every  one  acquainted  with  the  situation 
expects  a more  rapid  growth  than  indicated 
above;  in  fact  the  development  should  sur- 
pass that  of  the  first  ten  years  of  the  Men’s 
Department. 


34 


Wing  Kwong  Chung,  Dean  of  the  College  and  Ex-Commissioner  of 
Education  for  Kwongtung  Province,  and  his  daughter,  who  have  kept 
clearly  before  them  the  ultimate  building  of  a Women’s  College 


Fung  Hin  Liu’s  parents  and  sisters  have  worked  from  the  first 
toward  the  goal  of  a Girls’  School 


Mrs.  Henry  B.  Graybill  (Susan  Griggs) 


Mrs.  Laird  dons  the  girls’  uniform 


WHO  IS  GOING  TO  DO  IT? 

W.  Henry  Grant 

American  college  girls  are  joining  hands 
with  the  C.  C.  C.  girls  in  their  efforts  to  de- 
velop this  Women’s  Department.  The  Cen- 
tral Committee  of  the  General  Association 
of  the  C.  C.  C.,  through  its  special  Commit- 
tee on  Girls’  School  will  assist  in  working 
out  the  problem  of  the  future  Women’s 
College.  In  addition  to  certain  individuals, 
several  groups  have  committed  themselves 
to  share  in  the  work.  Some  are  in  the 
city,  some  in  suburban  towns  and  some  in 
colleges  and  schools.  Wherever  there  is  a 
vital  point  of  contact  with  someone  who  is 
keenly  interested,  a group  of  workers  and 
contributors  will  eventually  be  found.  The 
Christian  Association  at  Vassar  College  is 
providing  the  support  of  a teacher  while 
Westover  School,  Middlebury,  Connecticut, 
is  contributing  annually  to  the  general  work 
of  the  College  and  keeps  closely  in  touch  with 
the  progress  of  its  educational  work.  A Vas- 
sar Alumna  has  given  five  thousand  dollars 
to  start  things. 

When  one  is  asked  to  join  this  work  she 
naturally  asks,  “What  can  I do  to  forward 
so  large  an  undertaking?  The  work  seems 
quite  beyond  me.  I know  almost  nothing 
of  how  to  go  about  it.”  Possibly  so,  but 
how  much  does  it  take  to  make  a start? — A 
will  and  a tongue,  a will  and  a pen,  a will 
and  a prayer,  a will  and  a heart,  one  woman 
and  one  cent;  another  woman  is  enlisted  and 
the  Women's  Department  has  started  on  its 
35 


The  Canton  Christian  College 


undying  course.  It  is  a principle  in  chem- 
istry that  as  soon  as  there  is  a tiny  particle, 
like  dissolving  salt  or  sugar,  about  which  a 
reaction  can  take  place,  certain  elements 
which  before  were  held  apart  immediately 
begin  to  unite.  It  is  so  with  the  making  of 
a Women’s  College  for  China.  As  soon  as 
there  were  intelligently  interested  individ- 
uals who  had  a heart  and  mind  to  work,  the 
College  began  to  grow. 

Providentially  the  initial  outlay  of  starting 
the  Women’s  Department  of  the  C.  C.  C.,  is 
comparatively  small,  though  a good  building 
and  playgrounds  and  two  American  and 
two  Chinese  young  women  teachers  are  quite 
essential  to  any  advance.  As  China’s  new 
primary  schools  and  girls’  schools,  from  the 
grammar  grade  up,  must  be  taught  by 
women,  and  as  two  millions  of  such  women 
teachers  will  be  required,  it  is  evident  that 
a women’s  college  is  full  of  potential  pos- 
sibilities. The  character  of  the  education 
and  its  effect  upon  the  Chinese  homes  and 
society  will  be  determined  by  the  character 
and  training  of  the  women  who  take  the 
lead. 

The  first  step  toward  participation  in  this 
work  can  be  taken  by  joining  the  General 
Association  or  a local  group  of  those  who 
are  interesting  themselves  in  helping  the 
Canton  Christian  College  meet  its  opportun- 
ity. “Arise  and  be  doing  and  the  Lord  will 
be  with  thee.” — 1 Chron.  22 :16. 


36 


